A popular anchor on Arise Television, Rufai Oseni, has vowed to rigorously scrutinise the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and its prospective presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bellnews reports that Oseni made this known on Wednesday during a broadcast of the station’s Morning Show, where he stressed that the party must urgently present a clear policy direction to Nigerians.
The broadcaster noted that while the party appears to be gaining traction through defections, such momentum would not suffice without a well-articulated vision.
According to him, the NDC must, within days, unveil its ethos and manifesto as it prepares to select a presidential flagbearer.
“The only challenge I see is on the NDC now to be able to tell us what they’re going to do for the Nigerian people, and that’s what I’m going to scrutinise them based on,” Oseni said.
“And the party should be able to have ethos and manifesto in the next couple of days. So as they try to get whoever is going to be their presidential candidate, they should tell us what they are going to do for Nigerians.”
Oseni also cast doubt on some of the claims surrounding the party’s growing popularity, particularly reports of mass registration.
“Yes, people are already defecting. They have momentum. It’s not just about momentum. I’ve not verified the 10 million registration. I mean, I don’t talk about things I’ve not verified, but there’s been some mass move from the house,” he added.
Peter Obi Must Present ‘Rigorous Plan’
The media personality further disclosed plans to interview former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, insisting that the politician must present detailed policy frameworks on key national issues.
He stressed that any candidate seeking to lead Nigeria must provide clear, actionable solutions.
“They need to be able to come out with a rigorous plan. And these are the things that I will scrutinize Mr. Peter Obi on. I would like to interview him anytime soon on this platform,” Oseni said.
“He needs to be able to come out with the rigorous plan because we will press his neck.”
Oseni emphasised that the country’s current challenges demand serious policy responses, not rhetoric.
“We have to be more hard on him. You say you want to change this country and everything, you have to show workings because Nigeria is in dire stress. There are lots of challenges,” he said.
“What are they going to do about forex? What are they going to do about the subsidy? What are they going to do about foreign exchange? What are they going to do about social capital? What are they going to do about the welfare scheme for the people?”
He warned that failure by the NDC to clearly communicate its plans would attract strong criticism from him and other stakeholders.
“These are things I want to see from the NDC, if I don’t see it in the next couple of days, I will be the biggest antagonist,” he stated.
“Now you’ve done the policy and everything. This is the time to come up because the integrity of the country we want to build. We can’t build a joke as a country.”
“So we will press your neck, NDC. If you don’t show us where the party is going, in terms of provision for the people and what Nigerians should be asking, we will press your neck, Mr Peter Obi. We will demand accountability,” Oseni further warned.